Intrahepatic micrometastases around liver metastases from gastric cancer |
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Authors: | Takashi Nomura Yukinori Kamio Naoki Takasu Toshiyuki Moriya Akiko Takeshita Masaomi Mizutani Osamu Hachiya Ichiro Hirai and Wataru Kimura |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Gastroenterological and General Surgery, Yamagata University School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan |
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Abstract: | Background/Purpose We aimed to clarify the association between the presence of micrometastases around liver metastases from gastric cancer and
the results of hepatic resection. In addition, we investigated the influence of E-cadherin and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7
expression on the development of micrometastases.
Methods Micrometastases around liver metastases were examined microscopically in 31 metastatic liver tumor specimens resected from
17 patients who had undergone hepatic resection for liver metastases from gastric cancer. E-cadherin and MMP-7 expression
in the primary gastric tumor, the liver metastases, and the micrometastases were examined immunohistochemically.
Results Hepatic micrometastases were present in around 48% of the liver metastases, accounting for 59% of the patients. The tumor
recurrence rate in the remnant liver after hepatic resection was significantly higher, and survival significantly poorer,
in patients with such micrometastases than in those without. Micrometastases tended to appear around the liver metastases
that had reduced E-cadherin expression. Most of the micrometastases in the lymph ducts and sinusoids showed reduced E-cadherin
expression. MMP-7 expression was not correlated with the presence of micrometastases.
Conclusions About half of the hepatic metastases from gastric cancer had seeded off micrometastases, and the presence of these micrometastases
was associated with a poorer result of hepatic resection. Reduced E-cadherin expression in metastatic liver tumors may be
associated with the development of micrometastases. |
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Keywords: | Gastric cancer Liver metastases Intrahepatic micrometastases E-cadherin MMP-7 |
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